Fruit-picker.



H. A. GOLBY.

FRUIT PICKER.

APPLwATIoN FILED snmzl, 1912.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

fr r UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

HAROLDA. COLBY, OF SPRING GROVE, ILLINOIS.

FRUIT-PICKER.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD A. Conni', a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of Spring Grove, county of Mc- Henry, andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFruit-Pickers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in fruit pickers or gatherers andhas for its object the production of a device of this character designedfor use especially in picking or gathering cherries.

A further object is the production of a device as mentioned which willbe durable and economical in construction, and through the medium ofwhich fruit of the character mentioned may be picked with ease andexpedition.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of thisspecification and in which,

Figure 1 is a substantially central longitudinal section of a fruitpicker embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken onsubstantially line :1J- rc of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a top plan .View of theouter end portion of the cutting member of the device, and Fig. 4 is asection taken on line g/-u/ of Fig. 3.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawingscomprises an elongated handle 1 which is provided at its ends withreinforcing metal ferrules 2 and 3. Secured rigidly to the ferrule 2 isa rectangular housing 4. Arranged axially in the handle 1 is a rotaryshaft 5,` one end of which is connected as at 6 with a conventionalflexible shaft 7, the latter, when in use, being driven through themedium of an electric motor which will be carried upon the body of theoperator, said motor being electrically connected with any suitablesource of power supply which is convenient and accessible. A switch willbe provided in the circuit of said motor so as to secure operation andthe cessation of the shaft 5 when desired.

Provided at the front end of the shaft 5 within the housing 4 is a crankconsisting Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 21, 1912. Serial No. 721,619.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

of a disk 8 secured to said shaft and a crank pin 9 projecting from saiddisk. Arranged in one side of the housing Ll: is a relatively stationarycutter blade 10, the rearward end of said blade being mounted in grooves11 which are formed in the opposite edges of said housing, as clearlyshown in Fig. 2, set screws 12 serving to releasably lock said blade :inposition in said grooves. The arrangement is such, as will be observed,that said blade may be readily and expeditiously detached for sharpeningor otherwise repairing or replacing the same. Fulcrumed at 13 upon theupper side of blade 10 is a relatively movable cutter blade 14, therearward angularly disposed end of said blade 14 being bit'urcated as at15 for engagement with crank pin 9 and so that rotation of shaft 5 willefl'ect oscillation of said movable blade. The blade 1l is provided withcut ting edges at its opposite sides, as shown in Fig. Il, for operationwith cutting edges which are provided at the inner sides of cut ter arms10 which are formed through bi- :lurcation of the outer end of blade 10.With this arrangement it will be seen that an efli cient cutting elementis constituted, the shearing eut which results from the arrangement ofthe cutting blades as set forth being of great ellicacy. Said cuttingedges are serrated as shown in order to prevent slipping of the fruitstems from between the cutting' edges during operation of the cutters.The outer ends of the cutter blades are preferably curved as shown inorder to adapt the same to more readily find their way into engagementwith the stems of the fruit. i

Rotatably mounted in a circumferential groove 16 formed in ferrule 2 `isa ring 17 provided at one side with a hook 18. The hook 1S is adaptedfor engagement with the bail 19 of a suitable receptacle 20 forreceiving the fruit as the same is severed by the device. The ring isrotatably mounted in the groove 16 so that the cutting blades may beturned in any direction to engage the stems without tilting thereceptacle 20.

With a device as set forth the picking of fruit such as cherries may beeffected with the greatest ease and expedition. The device is simple andeconomical in construction so that the same will not readily get out oforder. The blades are so mounted that the same may be readilydetachedfor sharpening and the device is of light construction so as'to bereadily handled by the operator.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. A fruit picker comprising a handle, cutting blades thereon, a ringrotatably mounted on said handle adjacent the blades and a hook on saidring to support a receptacle,

substantially as described.

2. A fruit picker comprising a handle, a housing secured to the end ofsaid handle and comprising an end wall iixed to the handle, a top walland parallel side Walls, the lower edges of said side walls beingprovided with parallel grooves on their inner faces, a blade having ashank forming the bottoni of said housing and having its edges arrangedin said grooves, means for securing said blade in position, a secondblade pivotally mounted on the rst mentioned blade and means within saidhousingfor operating the last mentioned blade, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this speciiication in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses. y

HAROLD A. COLBY.

TWitnesses:

FRANK Gr. COLBY, WV. E. CoLY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

